A nominative fallacy

[larryhammer]

So why do we name inanimate objects? Why certain objects only? And why do some of us name things more than others? Questions worthy of tabouli, if she ever set her mind to it. I'm not up for it, though -- aside from noting that the more mobile or complex a thing, the more likely it gets a name. The semblance of animate. Massive engineworks, I understand the impulse. A chair or microwave, not so much, nor a TV. Possibly a car, though I'm personally dubious (says the co-driver of Rockhopper, with a penguin mascot on the dash). A computer, yes -- about the only personal possession I comfortably and instinctively name.

My replacement laptop is Dânadariel (accessorized with hard drive Magic Wand and flash drives Glitter and Sparkle). Because a fairy name seemed right. The stolen one was Buttercup, after my favorite Powerpuff Girl. The desktop before that was Fred, as all previous computers -- but those were all dubbed before I decided to call my muse that, and it wouldn't Do to be confusing.

What objects in your life have names?

---L.

Comments

[tabouli.livejournal.com]

Questions worthy of me? (blinks) Well, yes, such speculations are indeed saladic. The practice of naming inanimate objects generally isn't, though: while I will talk to computers, cars and other objects when they need coaxing or cursing, the key characteristic for me seems to be whether the object *resembles* an animate creature. I named the toy zebra I bought in South Africa, for example, even though he's neither mobile nor complex (note also the assignment of gender, which I don't do to my car or computer).

[larryhammer]

I don't think I've named any stuffies since I was first courting Janni, and rather silly about most things. No, wait, there was a bear, a gift from a friend, that came with the Wrong Name on his sweater whom I redubbed Benjamin, to both our reliefs. The rest of the livestock, those acquired since college, are nameless -- or rather, just themselves.

---L.

[larryhammer]

The genders of inanimate objects (in non-gendered languages, anyway) is another issue entirely. Another worth poking at.

---L.